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Podcast Answer Man

Podcast Answer Man

Written by: Cliff Ravenscraft
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About this listen

 For the past twenty years, I have been immersed in the world of podcasting. I’ve produced more than fifty-five of my own shows and published over 4,800 episodes. As a podcast consultant, I’ve trained tens of thousands of people on how to successfully launch their show and build a profitable business around their expertise. Podcast Answer Man is where you can bring every question you have about podcasting. Gear. Workflow. Strategy. Audience growth. Monetization. Industry shifts. The landscape is always changing. I may not have every answer on the spot. I do know how to find the right answer for you, and I’m eager to be of service. If you want a clear, dependable guide in a noisy industry, this is the place. Each episode is focused on practical insight, proven experience, and the mindset required to create content that serves your audience and supports the business you want to build. Ask your questions. I’ll help you find your path forward in podcasting.© 2026 CliffRavenscraft.com Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 482 - Why You Should Consider Creating a Separate Podcast with Only 5 to 10 Episodes

    482 - Why You Should Consider Creating a Separate Podcast with Only 5 to 10 Episodes
    Jan 23 2026

    What if the most powerful podcast you ever create is not one you plan to produce every week for years, but one you intentionally decide to end before you ever hit record on episode one?

    In this episode, I share the full recording of my PodFest Expo 2026 session where I make the case for launching a limited-series podcast. A short, laser-focused show designed to solve one specific problem for one specific audience.

    I walk through why this approach is easier to discover, easier to binge, easier to trust, easier to recommend, and ultimately easier to convert than a traditional ongoing weekly podcast.

    I also share real-world examples from my own experience, including a podcast I haven't touched in over 15 years that still generates meaningful revenue today, and another limited series that produced $90,000 from four people who found the podcast within 45 days, people who had never heard my name before.

    If you already have a podcast, or if your audience growth has plateaued, this episode will challenge how you think about podcasting as a tool for movement, not just content creation.

    Topics Covered in This Episode
    • Why a podcast that is intentionally finite can be more powerful than an ongoing weekly show
    • What a limited-series podcast is and how it differs from your main podcast
    • The five core benefits of creating a five to ten episode podcast
    • Why limited series podcasts are easier to discover in search
    • How short series naturally encourage binge listening
    • How rapid binge listening accelerates trust with new listeners
    • Why these podcasts are dramatically easier for others to recommend
    • How limited series podcasts create a natural path to conversion
    • A behind-the-scenes look at my Virtual Assistant Podcast and its long-term impact
    • How a six-episode series led to $90,000 in new mastermind revenue
    • Using archived evergreen content to launch a new limited series without starting from scratch
    • Practical ideas for using limited series podcasts to promote books, programs, events, or coaching
    • Why podcasting works best when it is designed for intentional movement
    Gear Recommendation

    I used the Tascam DR-10L Pro to record my talk, a professional field recorder with a lavalier microphone. I use this for all my presentations so I'm never dependent on someone else's equipment to capture quality audio from the stage. Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4jZc8iy

    Private Strategy Coaching for Podcasters

    If you already have a podcast, or you have the technical side figured out, and what you really want is clear, practical strategy, I’m offering a limited-time one-on-one coaching package.

    This is for brand new clients only. We’ll work together over three ninety-minute private sessions focused on your podcasting and or entrepreneurial journey.

    The investment is $1,500. If you want to bounce ideas off someone who has been in this space for over twenty years and get clear direction on your next best steps, email me at Cliff@PodcastAnswerMan.com.
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    32 mins
  • 481 - How to Start a Podcast and Still Be Around 12 Years Later

    481 - How to Start a Podcast and Still Be Around 12 Years Later
    Jan 16 2026
    If you would like to learn how to start a podcast and still be around 12 years later, you will want to listen to this episode. In it, I share a powerful conversation with Laura McClellan, host of The Productive Woman podcast, who took my Podcasting A to Z course more than twelve years ago and has now published over five hundred episodes. Laura almost never launched her show. She recorded her first episode, then let fear stop her for six months before finally deciding to publish an episode she recorded from a closet with a handheld recorder. What followed was a body of work that has touched thousands of people around the world. This conversation is part of my Where Are They Now? series, where I sit down with students who went through my course 10 to 15 years ago to explore what it actually looks like to keep showing up with your voice over the years. Insights from My Conversation with Laura Starting a podcast can begin as a personal, creative outlet long before it becomes something that serves others.Fear and self-doubt are often part of the beginning, even for people who later become incredibly consistent creators.You do not need a platform or an audience to start. You only need a willingness to speak and press publish.A simple weekly cadence creates momentum that compounds over time.Listener feedback, even from one person, can be the fuel that keeps you going.Podcasting builds community in ways that are difficult to predict when you first begin.Taking a sabbatical or stepping away can be part of a long creative life.It is easier for many people to speak than to write, which makes podcasting a powerful medium for sharing ideas.Tools and technology continue to evolve, making it easier than ever to create and distribute high-quality content.The true reward of podcasting is not downloads or stats, but the impact your voice has on real people. Links and Resources Laura’s Podcast In Apple PodcastsLaura's Podcast in SpotifyLaura McClellan’s website: TheProductiveWoman.comPodcasting A to ZWhat Are You Creating? podcast Where Are They Now? This is a special series inside my What Are You Creating? podcast that begins with Episode 27. In this series, I sit down with people who went through my Podcasting A to Z course more than a decade ago and chose to keep creating. These are long-term podcasters who have published hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of episodes over the last ten to fifteen years. Each conversation looks back on what it was like to begin, what it took to keep going, and how their lives and work have evolved through years of using their voice. You can find the series starting at Episode 27 by clicking here. Podcasting A to Z Laura’s story is not special because she decided to begin and kept showing up. If you have been thinking about starting a podcast, relaunching one that has gone quiet, or bringing new life to something you already created, my next session of Podcasting A to Z is starting soon. This is the same program Laura went through and it is where I personally walk you through every step of creating a great-sounding audio podcast with clarity, confidence, and a proven plan. You can find all the details at PodcastingAtoZ.com.
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    44 mins
  • 480 - Why Podcasting Conferences Still Matter. PodFest 2026

    480 - Why Podcasting Conferences Still Matter. PodFest 2026
    Jan 9 2026

    In this episode, I share why podcasting conferences still matter in 2026. Attending podcast-focused conferences has shaped my entire career. From the early days of missing the very first podcasting events to the way conferences eventually accelerated my growth, my relationships, and my income, this episode is a reflection on why rooms full of podcasters change everything.

    For the first few years of my podcasting journey, I was creating alongside others, but I was not yet connected to the larger community of podcasters who lived and breathed this medium the way I did. That changed the moment I started attending podcasting conferences.

    In this episode, I walk you through:

    • Why missing the earliest podcasting events created some of the biggest regret in my career.
    • How attending my first industry conference shifted the trajectory of my business.
    • What actually happens when you get in rooms with other people who love podcasting.
    • Why conferences collapse years of learning into just a few days.
    • How events like BlogWorld, Podcast Movement, and PodFest shaped the podcasting industry.
    • Why I am intentionally returning to podcast conferences in 2026 and beyond.

    I also share a recent conversation with Nick Pavlidis, CEO of PodFest Expo, where we talk about:

    • How he got into podcasting through conversations with his kids.
    • Why he bought PodFest and what he is trying to protect and grow.
    • How PodFest is different from other podcasting conferences.
    • Why the event is built around independent creators.
    • The Podcast Hall of Fame and why it now lives at PodFest.
    • The changing needs of podcasters and how in-person events meet those needs.

    Key ideas from this episode

    • The highest value of podcasting conferences come from the in-person relationships.
    • Being in the same room with other creators changes how you see yourself and your work.
    • The best opportunities in this industry almost always come from conversations, not presentations.
    • If you keep the same people around you, your life and business will look the same in five years.
    • PodFest is designed to serve independent podcasters first, not corporate sponsors.

    Resources and links mentioned

    • PodFest Expo

      https://podfestexpo.com

    • Promo Code for PodFest

      Use PAM for 10 percent off your ticket

    • Podcast Hall of Fame

      https://podcasthall.com

    Ready to stop doing this alone?

    If this episode reminded you that podcasting is better when you are in a room with other creators, then Podcasting A to Z might be exactly what you are looking for.

    Podcasting A to Z is my live, step-by-step coaching experience for people who are ready to launch, relaunch, or level up their podcast. It is a group of podcasters who are showing up, asking real questions, and building real momentum together.

    We meet for four weeks.

    We solve real problems.

    And we move your podcast forward with clarity and confidence.

    The next session begins January 26.

    Learn more and register at: PodcastingAtoZ.com
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    55 mins
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